Other Court Records and Court Related Records

Each of the following series contains the records of more than one
court, therefore making it difficult to categorize them under any one court.
Also, at the end of this section is one series from the Court of Chancery
which did not meet the criteria to be placed in any other section of the
finding aid.
JUDGEMENT BOOKS. (1877-1943). 163 Volumes. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten-Early, Typed-Later.
These records cover cases heard in the County Court and various
branches of the Supreme Court. This series lists judgements handed
down in civil cases, stating who won and how much was awarded.
How the judgement was arrived at is vague, usually only stating
"upon the jury's verdict", by the decision of an arbitrator, or because
one of the parties failed to appear in court. Although the facts of a
case are often vague, some interesting information and details can be
obtained here. For instance, cases involving property disputes include
a surveyor's detailed description of the property. It should be noted that
original documents from these cases might be found in the two series
entitled "Judgement Rolls" in the Supreme and County Court sections.
JUDGEMENT INDEXES. (1929-1958, not inclusive). 56 Volumes.
Arrangement: Chronological, then Alphabetical. Agency Origin:
Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
Information in this series is recorded in chart form, with the
following columns: Parties Against Whom Judgement was Obtained,
Parties in Whose Favor Judgement was Obtained, Attorneys, Court,
Debt, Damages and Cost, Judgement When Perfected, Judgement When
Docketed, When Satisfied. The years covered in this series are scattered,
covering 1928, 1929, 1934, 1941, 1948, 1954, 1956, 1958 and 1959.
JUDGEMENT DOCKETS. (1840-1895, not inclusive). 51 Volumes.
Arrangement: Chronological, then Alphabetical. Agency Origin:
Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This series contains the same information as the Judgement Indexes
(above) and in the same chart form; only the name and the time period
covered differ. The most common courts which appear in this series are
the County, Supreme and Justice's Courts and, on rarer occasions,
records from the Court of Common Pleas (Pre- 1 847) and the Mayor's
Court appear. The years 1842-1859 are missing.
REGISTERS. (1899-1918). 14 Volumes. Arrangement: Chronological.
Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten. Indexed.
This series records civil cases from the Supreme, County and
Recorders Court (there are no separate records for Recorders).
Each case is recorded on a small block on the page with brief annotations,
such as "stipulation and order of discontinuance", "final judgement
and proof" and "failure to answer". This may be a court clerk's register
(essentially a tracking record).
GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS. (1892-1911, not inclusive). 5 Cubic Feet.
Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten.
This series contains materials relating to debt and insolvement
assignment cases in the County and Supreme Courts. Among the
materials available are schedules of property, orders directing bond,
vouchers, and citations to creditors who wish to,make a claim against
an estate. The following years are missing from this series: 1893 and
1895.
JUSTICES RETURNS ON APPEAL. (19Ol-l9ll). 3 Cubic Feet.
Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten. Indexed.
This series covers the County Court, Police Court, and various city
courts for both criminal and civil cases. These records are cases that
were appealed because of a belief that the judge "erred in his ruling".
There are various types of papers preserved: in this series, such as a court
order to release someone from prison, copies of cornplaints and transcripts
of a case.
MINUTES.(1888-1901, not inclusive): Arrangement Chronological.
Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This series is a record of orders motions and papers filed in the
County and Supreme Courts. The years1895-1898 are misssing
from this series.
BOND OF COMMITTEE-INCOMPETENTS. (1897-1914). 1 Cubic Foot.
Arrangement: Chronological. - Agency Origin: Albany Camty Clerk.
Handwritten.
This series is a record of bonds posted in the Supreme and
County Courts by trustees appointed by the court to handle legal
aspects of an incompetent's estate. The bonds insured the faithful
execution of the trustees'duties.
RECOGNIZANCES. (1881-1926). 1 Cubic Foot. Arrangement: Chronological.
Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This series records the posting of bail in the County and Police
Courts and is divided into bail posted before and after the indictment.
The information recorded in this series includes the name of the
denfendant, the crime committed, the defendant's occupation and
address, and the amount of the bond.
GUARDIAN BONDS. (1906-1915). 1 Cubic Foot. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Typed.
This series contains the bonds posted by guardians for the faithful
execution of their duties.
RECORD OF HABITUAL CRIMINALS. (1913). 1 Volume. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This series lists the convict's name and every crime he or she
committed, starting with the most recent crime. Also recorded is the
statement that he or she was "adjudged to be a habitual criminal".
RECOGNIZANCES IN OPEN COURT. (1881-1916). 1 Volume. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This series is a record of defendants who posted bail or were
released on their own recognizance, swearing to appear in court on
the prescribed date. The defendant's crime is also recorded.
INDEX TO COURT RECORDS. (1811-1918). 1 Volume. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
Apparently, this series is an administrative record, but which
court it covers is unclear. It is in chart form with the defendant's
name and plaintiffs name, along with a "draw number:" and "number".
(This is probably a reference to the physical location of court records
when in the Clerk's office - "draw" = "drawer".)
BOOK OF INDICTMENTS. (1894-1900). I Volume. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This record covers the Court of Sessions, the Court of Oyer and
Terminer, County Court and Supreme Court. It states the name of the
defendant, the crime committed and how the case was disposed.
SUPREME COURT CASES (1869-1874) SURROGATE COURT CASES. (1893).
1 Volume. Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten. Indexed.
This series is a clerk's register of filed court papers. Annotations
read "delivered copy of summons", "notice of trial to attorney" and
"filed notice of issue".
SUPREME COURT RECORDS, INCLUDING MAYOR'S COURT.(1859-1862).
1 Volume. Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten. AVAILABLE ON MICROFILM.
This clerk's register has brief annotations concerning court papers
such as notices, summons, and answers. It must be noted that the
handwriting here is very compact and difficult to decipher.
INDICTMENTS OF THE SUPREME AND COUNTY COURTS.
(1900-1901). 1 Volume. Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin:
Albany County Clerk. Handwritten. Indexed.
This series records the defendant's name, what crime was
committed, when it was committed and the eventual outcome of
the case.
SHERIFF'S REGISTER-LEDGER ON ALL COURTS. (1830. 1832).
1 Volume. Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin:
Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
This volume is a register of writs issued and returned. It contains
charts with the following labeled columns: Parties in Suit, Return,
By Whom, Attorneys, Dollars and Cents.
COMMITMENTS. (1885-1893). 1 Volume. Arrangement: Chronological.
Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten. Indexed.
This series covers the Court of Sessions and the Court of Oyer and
Terminer and is a record of convicts committed to a county jail or state
prison. It states the name of the convict, the offense and the sentence.
RECORD OF CONVICTIONS. (1930-1974, not inclusive). 12 Cubic Feet.
Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten.
Most of these records are convictions from the Police Court but
convictions from the various town courts are included.
These records are printed, folded slips of paper containing the
following infornation: The convict's name, crime, when it was
committed and the sentence. The crinies were misdemeanors;
the most common were public intoxication and vagrancy.
Often, only a citation of the law was given, for example,
"chapter 10, section 2 of the code". The following gaps appear
in this series, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1963-65, 1968-69
and 1973.
DOCKET OF JUSTICE'S TRANSCRIPTS. (1872-1915). 1 Volume.
Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten. Indexed.
This series is a summary record of conviction for town and city
criminal courts. The information recorded includes the name of the
convict, the offense and the date of sentencing.
GRAND TRIAL JUROR'S REGISTERS. (1931-1956, not inclusive).
2 Cubic Feet. Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin:
Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
These records cover the County Court and various branches of the
Supreme Court, listing juror's names, addresses and occupations.
Also recorded are court orders to raise a jury to appoint court officers.
The following years are missing: 1941-1947.
CIVIL DOCKET. (1842-1844). 1 Volume. Arrangement: Chronological.
Agency Origin: Sheriff’s Department. Handwritten. Indexed.
This series is a record of writs served by the Sheriff s Department.
It contains charts with the following labeled columns: Date,
Title of Action (the court and the name of the case), Attorney, on Whom
Served, Where Served, Remarks and Fee.
The Court of Chancery
Established in 1685, the Court of Chancery had equity jurisdiction
and appellate jurisdiction over probate matters. Original jurisdiction
was vested in the Surrogate's Court after 1787. The court's duties
were absorbed by the Supretre Court in 1847.
REGISTERS AND LEDGERS. (1808-1839, not inclusive). 2 Volumes.
Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk.
Handwritten.
Labeled "Deposit expenditure of Court Cases" and "Ledger B", this
series appears to keep a record of debits and credits on estates that
are involved in court cases. There are expenses for fees, drafts,
interest accumulation and cash deposits, among other entries.
The years 1826-1829 are missing from this series.

COURT RELATED RECORDS

The following records contain information that is not directly part
of a court case, but is related to a case in some way.
Researchers may find this information useful.
PRISONER ADMISSION RECORDS. (1831-1931, not inclusive).
47 Volumes. Arrangement: Chronological. Agency Origin:
Sheriff’s Department. Handwritten.
These records were given various names such as Jailor's Dockets,
Commitments, Criminal Calendars, Deputies' Registers and Record
of Prisoners. All contain the same basic information concerning the
admission of convicts to jail, although some records are more
complete than others. The most common information given is the
date of admission, name, age, where bom, hair, eyes, height, weight,
color, occupation, habits of life (temperate or intemperate),
social relations (mariied or single.), education, religion, health,
sentence, number of prior commitments and amount of money in
possession.
Some series contain more information. The Bertillion
Ledgers have a section labeled Anthrometric Data which lists body
measurements, such as the length of limbs, size of ears and width of
the forehead. Other books, such as the Criminal Calendar, state
only the name of the convict, offense, date of discharge, by whom,
and sentence. One volume, entitled Board Book, shows a list of
expenses incurred in the transfer of prisoners from other parts of the
country to Albany; it includes board, mileage and cost of clothing.
The following gap appears in the series: 1832-1833. The years 1853
and 1866-68 can be found only in the Registers of Convicts Received
from Washington, D.C. A list of the different sub-series is provided
below:
Bertillion Ledger - 3 Volumes (1895-97, 1898, 1923-25).
Jailor's Docket-8 Volumes (1886-88, 1888-89, 1888-91,
1891-92,1892-94, 1928-1930, 1928-1931,nodate).
Register or Record of Prisones. 8 Volumes (1846, 1871,
1871-72 1882-88, 1885-89, 1888-1901, 1895-1922,
1896- 1920).
Criminal Book - I Volume (I 83 1).
Admission Books. 4 Volumes (1878-81, 1883, 1912-1921, 1920-
1921).
Criminal Calendar. 2Volumes (1838-43, 1843-47).
Deputy'sRegister. 6Volumes (1888-94, 1894-96, 1896-1904,
1904-1915, 1915-1924, 1924-1931).
Albany County Jail Register - 6 Volumes (1834-39, 1854-65, 1861-
1863, 1871-72, 1888-1901, 1896-1900).
Register of Convicts Received From Washington D.C. - I Volume
(1862-1928). Board Book -I Volume (I 898-1900).
LIS PENDENS. (1887-1908, not inclusive). 5 Volumes.
Arrangement: Chronological, then Alphabetical. Agency Origin:
Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
Lis Pendens means pending suit. A record of Lis Pendens is
kept to put all on notice that a certain property is involved in litigation
and in danger of being affected by an adverse judgement.
This series appears to be an index to more information about a law suit.
A chart provides date, book and page. Also, there is a column labeled
"Notes", but most of these columns are empty.
JURORS LIST. (1897-1905, not inclusive). 5 Volumes. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Commissioner of Jurors. Handwritten.
This series list prospective jurors in a chart with the following
information: Name, City, Town Where From, Ward, Residence,
Occupation and remarks. The most common remark is"not
qualified".
COURT PAYROLL. (1911-1981, bulk l9ll-1942). 8Volumes. Arrangement:
Chronological. Agency Origin: Albany County Clerk. Handwritten.
As its name implies, this series is a ledger recording money paid to
court employees. The years 1943-1975 are missing from this series.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bailey, Marey L. and Sweeney, Sharon M. Guide to the Historical Records
in the Office of the Albany County Clerk. Albany, NY.- Albany
County Clerk, 1979.
Black's Law Dictionary. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Co., 1979.
Folts, James D. "Duely & Constantly Kept": A History of the New York
Supreme Court- 1691-1847 and An Inventory of Its Records, 1797-1847.
Albany, NY. State Court of Appeals and the New York State Archives and
Records Administration, 1991.
Gehring, Charles T., ed. Fort Orange Court Minutes, 1652-1660.
Syracuse, NY. Syracuse University Press, 1990.
Van Laer, A.J.F., ed. Minutes of the Court of Albany, Rensselaerwyck,
and Schenectady, 1680-1685. Volume III. Albany, NY. The University
of the State of New York, 1932.
The Works Progress Administration. Inventory of the County Archives
(exclusive of the Five Counties of New York City). Albany, NY.
The Historical Records Survey, 1937.